Aeroplane.



1. F. JONES.

AEROPLANE APPLICATION FILED OCT-15.1917:

1,290,836. Patentd Ja11.7,1919.

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gvwento'o J. F. JONES.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED ocT. 15. 1911.

Patented Jan. 7, 1919.

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AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-1L I917- 1,290,836. Patented Jan. 7,1919.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES F. JQNES, OF AKRON, OHIO, 'ASSIGNOR or ONE-THIRD TO SHELBY r. WALLAGE,

- F AKRON, OHIO. I

AEROPLANE.

- To all wkom'z't may concern:

Be it'known that I, JAMES F. JONES, a citizen'ofthe United States, residing at Akron, in the county of'Summit and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aeroplanes. of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to'certa'in improvements in aeroplanes and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this general character having novel and improved means whereby the device is caused to rise or lift independently of'the forward advance of the machine.

It is also an object of'the invention to provide a novel and improved device of this general character wherein upwardly directed side planes are employed together with means for directing a force of air against the inner surface of each of the planes to elevate or lift the machine and for maintaining the machine elevated.

The invention has also for an object to provide a novel and improved aeroplane ineluding outwardly directed and upwardly inclined side planes provided with means to subject the under surface of said side planes to inwardly traveling air forces for elevating the machine and for maintaining the same elevated together with means co-acting with the inner end portions of the side planes for controlling the action of the air forces.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved "aeroplane including outwardly and upwardly directed side planes together with means for impos ingair forces upon the under surfaces of the planes for elevating the machine and maintaining the same elevated together with steering blades "supported below the side planes and adjacent the outer ends thereof and positioned in the path of travel of the air forces whereby the machine may be caused to turn within a restricted area.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved aeroplane wherein certain important advantages are attained and the clevice rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise Specification of Letters Patent.

.panying'dra wings wherein:

' Patented Jan. 7,1919.

Application filed October 15, 1917. Serial Notl96y665.

more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order tha't my invention may be the better understood I will now proceed to de scribe the same with reference to the accom- Figure l is a view in top planof an aeroplane constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention, said view being somewhat diagrammatic. I

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the device as herein disclosed and also of a diagrammatic character, the side planes omitted; and

Fig. 3 is atran's'verse'sectional view taken through the device as herein embodied'with a second position of certain of the parts indicated by dotted lines, said figure being also of a diagrammatic character.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings B denotes a body of my improved machine which is of a skeleton type and elongated, and provided with a rearwardly disposed tail portion T and a forwardly di reoted head H. Supported by the tail T are the planes l of a well known type and to which I make no claim as to novelty or originality. Secured to each side of the body B at its upper longitudinal margin is a laterally directed plane]? disposed at a predetermined upward and outward incline and said plane is supported by the machine braces 2 and the upwardly directed arch 3 secured tothe outer ends of the braces 2. The, outer or upper end of the plane P is of a width materially less than that of the inner end thereof and the width of said outer end Ofthe plane is substantially onehalf the width of the inner end, with the sidemarginal portions of said planes diverging toward the bodyB. The arch 3 is substantially semi-circular in form and the adjacent end portion of the plane is correspondingly formed. The plane however gradually flattens in cross section until it reaches the body B at Which'point said plane is straight. The extremities of each of the arches 3 are connected by the beam 5 and interposed between said beam 5 at substantially its longitudinal center and the central portion of the arch 3 is the vertically disposed strut 6. At a predetermined point inwardly of their outer ends each pair of braces 2 is connected by a rigid member 7 extending longitudinally of the bOC y B and supported by said member 7 through the medium of outstanding arms 8 is a bearing 9. The bearing 9 is in alinement with the beam 5 and rotatably supported by said beam 5 and the bearing 9 is a shaft 10 which extends slightly in advance of the outer end of the yoke 3. Mounted upon the outer end portion of the shaft 10 is a propeller 11 and the blades 12 thereof are arranged at such a pitch or hand as to direct a current of air toward the body B so as to contact with the under surface of the plane P. The inner extremity of each of the shafts 10 is coupled through the medium of the universal joint 14 with a shaft section 15 which is disposed on a predetermined downward incline and has its lower extremity coupled through the medium of the universal joint l6 with a driven shaft 1'7 supported by the body B. The shaft 17 is coupled as indicated at 18 with a driven shaft 19 of the motor M which may be of any ordinary or preferred type. The motor M operates to revolve both of the shafts 10 in unison and the air currents generated by the propellers 11 travel inwardly and contact with the under surface of the planes P. The forces of the air currents result in an elevation or lifting of the machine. This action of the air currents also serves to maintain the machine elevated. Supported by the head H is the driving propeller 20 of a conventional type and which is mounted upon the shaft 21 adapted to be driven by the motor M. The rotation of the shaft 21 is under the control of the transmission C which may be of any desired type and which permits the shaft 21 to rotate in either direction or to remain idle.

By this arrangement the propellers 11 may be operated to cause an elevating or lifting of the machine while the propeller 20 is at a standstill and it will also be at once self evident that when elevated the propeller 20 may be caused to rotate in a direction to assure forward advance of the machine or the propeller 20 may be rotated in a reverse direction to cause a rearward travel of the machine. This control of the machine is obtained in view of the fact that the maintenance of the machine in the air is not dependent in any way upon the propeller 20.

The inner end portion of each pair or set of braces 2 is connected by the beam 22 and pivotally engaged with said beam 22 is the upper marginal portion of a depending wing 23. Secured to the lower marginal portion of the wing 23 is a flexible member 2% which passes over a guide pulley 25 suitably supported by the adjacent member 7. The member 2 L then extends inwardly and is engaged with a Windlass 26 suitably mounted upon the body B. Upon requisite rotation being imparted to the Windlass 26 the wings 23 will be swung outwardly and upwardly while upon rotation of the wind: lass in an opposite direction said wings will swing downwardly by gravity.

The wing 23 extends substantially the entire length of the plane P. As the wings 23 swing upwardly the machine will be caused to descend and when the wings 23 assume a predetermined position intermediate their extent of movement the machine may be caused to suspend substantially stationary in the air due to the air force generated by the propellers 11 and co-acting with the under surface of the planes P.

Hingedly connected with each of the struts 6 and extending inwardly beneath the adjacent plane I? is a steering wing 27. Secured to the inner end portion of the wing 27 are the oppositely directed flexible members 28 which extend around suitable guide pulleys 29 and are operatively engaged with a Windlass 30. Upon proper rotation of the windlass 30 the machine may be caused to turn in either direction under the influence of the air currents generated by the propellers i1 and in practice it has been found that by the use of the planes 27 the machine may be caused to turn within a restricted area and in substantially its own length.

I found it of material advantage to connect each pair of braces 2 adjacent their outer ends with a flat supplemental plane 31 preferably bridging the space between the beam 5 and the member 7. With the use of the plane 31 it has been fully demonstrated that the air currents generated by the adjacent propeller ll possesses greater elevating force. I have also found it of advantage to provide the forward end of each of the planes P with the upstanding wing 32 ar ranged on a predetermined curvature and engaged with the frame 33. The wings 32 serve to maintain the machine in suspension when the machine is traveling at a high rate of speed. Suitably mounted upon the body B are the seats S which are preferably formed of reinforced cork so that in the event of the machine dropping upon a body of water each of the seats may be readily used to maintain a person afloat. I also find it of advantage to operatively engage with each of the seats S through the medium of the flexible connections 3d a parachute 35 of any desired construction which serves as an effective means to protect an occupant of the seat against injury should the machine drop. I also find it of advantage to interpose between an outer end of the braces 2 and the body B the guy wires 36 so that the planes P may be further braced against the pressure imposed thereon by the air currents generated through the medium of the propellers 11.

it may be assembled and operated and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without materially departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. An aeroplane consisting of a body, upwardly and outwardly directed planes carried by the body, means for directing air currents against the inner faces of the planes the outer portion of the planes being upwardly curved in a direction longitudinally of the body, the inner portions of the planes being gradually straightened toward the body.

2. An aeroplane consisting of a body, upwardly and outwardly directed planes carried by the body, means for directing air currents against the inner faces of the planes, the outer portion of the planes being upwardly curved in a direction longitudinally of the body, the inner portions of the planes being gradually straightened toward the body, the portions of the planes adjacent the body being straight.

3. An aeroplane consisting of a body, upwardly and outwardly directed planes carried by the body, means for directing air currents against the inner faces of the planes,

the curved portions of the planes being'of a length less than the portions of the planes adjacent the body.

4. An aeroplane consisting of a body, upwardly and outwardly directed planes carried by the body, means for directing air currents against the inner faces of the planes, the outer portion of the planes being upwardly curved in a direction longitudinally of the body, and fiat planes underlying the outer portions of the planes.

5. An aeroplane consisting of a body, upwardly and outwardly directed planes carried by the body, means for directing air currents against the inner faces of the planes, and vertically swinging wings arranged below the planes adjacent the body, and means for imparting upward and outward movement to the wings.

6. An aeroplane consisting of a body, upwardly and outwardly directed planes carried by the body, means for directing air currents against the inner faces of the planes, guiding wings arranged below the planes adjacent the outer margins thereof, and means for imparting movement to said wings.

7. An aeroplane consisting of a body, upwardly and outwardly directed planes carried by the body, means for directing air currents against the inner faces of the planes, guiding wings arranged below the planes adjacent the outer margins thereof and mounted for swinging movement about a substantially vertical axis, and means for imparting swinging movement to said wings.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES F. JONES.

Witnesses:

D. G. HAY, W. T. WA'rsoN'.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

